Carl Thomas on for Jared Buhagiar
Sean Gilbert on for Shane Howe
Brad Power on for William Gracia

A momentous week in the Second Division! Europa Point dropped 4 points in a draw vs Gibraltar Scorpions and a loss in a thrilling 4-3 midweek encounter with Mons Calpe. We did our bit by beating Mons last weekend and setting up a 2 point cushion with Europa Point. If our boys got the job done we’d all be home at Christmas 5 points clear at the top. Aldorino seems to have come across a settled group of players that are adept at playing in either a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formation. As such it was this solid group that was entrusted to deliver this most important of victories. On the bench we had two of our ‘international’ players Sean Gilbert and Brad Power who are completing their studies in the UK and are home for Christmas. It was great to see both get a run out and indeed Sean got himself on the score sheet. Indeed we had both Collado brothers and both Gilbert brothers on the pitch at the same time, can’t say I remember that happening very often! Unfortunately there is no match report for this week as your usual reporter was away at a wedding yet the boys delivered and top of the pile we sit! It was also very gratifying to see 22 locally developed players fight it out on the pitch, a rare occurrence in Division 2 these days.

William Gracia on for Stefan Cumbo
Aden Victor on for Steven Gilbert
Kaylan Rumbo on for Dylan Mañasco

A proper winter’s day with rain, wind and cold was the scene for this most dramatic of encounters, indeed days in the 2nd Division (one could say a local Super Sunday). United played the early 4pm game against Mons Calpe while fellow front runners Europa Point had the 8pm slot against 3rd placed Gibraltar Scorpions. Randal Aldorino had Carl Thomas back fit after some hamstring issues and as such resorted to a back 4. Willy Gracia dropped to the bench and so did Aden Victor who was replaced by Shane Howe making his first league start against his former team. Elsewhere it was as we where.

United line up in a 4-4-2 formation

United, as is their want, started very quickly off the blocks. A clever through ball by Cumbo was met with blistering pace by Justin Collado cutting in from the wing. He took one deft touch and set it up nicely for himself to finish. Unfortunately the ball whizzed over the cross bar by a mere centimeter. United were showing their teeth and mettle from the off! Yet it was a false dawn as Mons Calpe where here to give us a hard game. The match descended in one long pitch battle in the middle of the park that threatened to get out of the hands of match official Glenn Gilbert on more than one occasion. Both sets of players set about each other with gusto and aplomb. The yellow card was dished out on numerous occasions, though as was to be expected there was a fair amount of play acting by those in white and unfortunately some of our players fell for the bait. Was such an illustrious name as Mons Clape going to be dragged through the dirt by some undeserving of wearing it?

There was little goal mouth action for most of the first half. Shots on target came from distance that both Chino and Payas in the Mons Calpe goal dealt with calmly despite the weather and slippery ball. The breakthrough came about 30 minutes into the half. A corner floated in from the right wing by Andrew Lopez was met by a bullet header from left back Jared Buhagiar rushing into the area. The well directed header rushed past a flailing Payas and into the net. The emotion with which Jared celebrated his goal was indicative of the tension with which the game was being played. A few minutes before half time Dylan Mañasco was a victim of a clash of heads that left him with a bloody nose and a blood spattered shirt. As the rain continued to pour down the ref blew for half time with United holding to their slender lead.

Lovely December weather!

Dylan walked back on to the pitch as the second half started. Nose still bloody but a change of shirt as per the rulebook! The match continued in the same vein for the first few minutes though and several United players were increasingly frustrated with the referee and some of his decisions. Indeed it seemed he was much quicker to admonish the United players leaving the Mons ones with more of a leash to play on. Mons’ equaliser was really our own fault for a lack of concentration in defending a set play. A long ball found Lupi unmarked in the centre of the area, leaving Chino stranded as he powered a header past him. Almost immediately Chino was forced to make a save from a shot by Pillo. United were indeed under the cosh and at times looked indecisive and nervous. Both Cumbo and Gilbert were taken off by Aldorino and Victor and Gracia taking to the field, certainly a precautionary change as Cumbo on a yellow was being targeted and bracketed by the Mons players.

Yet nerves were calmed when Payas in the Mons goal mad a hash of a long ball that seemed to hang in the air for a long time. He rushed out to meet the ball but his center half, marking Willy Gracia, was in his way. He fumbled and though Willy was oblivious to the where the ball landed, Shane Howe was there to pounce and toe poke the ball passed the helpless keeper. That 3 in 3 for Shane, having also netted for the Reserves earlier in the week. A great reward for a player that ran his socks off today. Indeed the United players all ran their socks off aware that Mons were here to give us as staunch a game as they could. The nerves in the stands were palpable and were taken to fraying point when Mons Calpe equalised for a second time. Once again slack marking at the far post from a set play meant a carbon copy of the first goal. Chino left alone facing a player heading the ball unmarked.

United supporters in the stands roared their team on and as tempers of the field soared so did the frustration with the referee, which in all honesty had a very bad game. Mons pressed forwards for the winner while United were caught on a number of times in close offside calls. Yet it is our bloodied warrior Dylan Mañasco that has the final say in this tale. In a characteristic burst forward he bravely charged into the area. Payas-Carlin charged out from his goal like a raging bull and felled Dylan. Clear penno! What was less clear was the ref’s decision to only brandish a yellow when it was just Dylan, the keeper and a beckoning goal. United players surrounded the ref but the decision was a clear one. Up stepped Andrew Lopez, an epitomy of calmness at the centre of the raging storm. As Mons players tried to throw off his concentration he calmly stood by the spot awaiting the ref’s whistle. He sent Payas one way, the ball the other and thus celebrated his recent good news of impending paternity with a goal. Indeed a 4th in two games and Andrew has taken well to taking on the scoring burden in the absence of Lee Muscat.

There was still one more heart in mouth moment as, once again, a far post header flew wide of the United goal. The sound of the referee’s whistle as music to our ears. The way both players and fans celebrated was testament to the tension lived in the match. Yet 3 extremely valuable points that puts all the pressure on Europa Point who play 3rd placed Gibraltar Scorpions in the 8pm kick off tonight.

Two historic names clash in this week’s match. Mons Calpe SC, a name associated with Gibraltar since Roman times, and Gibraltar United battle it out on the pitch. 16:00 Sunday 14th December. Come down and the support the lads this Sunday afternoon!

Kaylan Rumbo on for William Gracia
Shane Howe on for Justin Collado
David Gallardo on for Dylan Mañasco

A seriously chilly December night was the backdrop for Gib Utd’s latest league encounter. It was a case of deja vu as our opponents were once again Boca Juniors, recently disposed of in the 2nd Division League Cup. Would complacency set in? Would the cold affect the players? Those questions were answered with aplomb by the Gibraltar United players. William Gracia made his return to league action after 3 weeks absence through injury and the team lined up with 3 at the back. Lee Muscat was the obvious absentee as he nurses an injury. Shane Howe and David Gallardo made the bench and both made their debuts during the course of the match. As for the rest of the line up it took a very familiar look to it. Justin Collado played just off Andrew Lopez while Dylan and Stefan plied their usual roles in the middle of the park.

United’s line up for the match

Gib Utd were very quick off the start as they immediately took possession of the ball and kept it away from Boca, a constant throughout the match and indeed this season as Utd have made it a characteristic of their play. Boca’s midfielders were made to chase the ball while our passing was incisive and quick. It was at the end of one of these through balls that Justin Collado notched up the first goal of the evening. A well placed finished at the end of a delicious pass. Any doubts that the team would have been complacent or the cold would have any effect were immediately dispelled.

The goal scorer receives his team mate’s plaudits

Yet the remainder of the first half bore no resemblance to the avalanche coming in the second. Boca, tenacious in midfield, seemed to wake up after the goal had gone in and were challenging Gracia and Mañasco for possession of the ball and the center of the pitch. Yet they carried little goal scoring threat. United however had two chances. Andrew Lopez missed a gilt edged chance and missed from point blank range while Kenneth Chipolina unleashed a trademark scorcher from range that almost caught Hermida in the Boca goal cold. The ref blew for half time with Gibraltar United holding onto their one goal lead.

The midfield battle raged on in the First Half

The second half however was a different story altogether. Gibraltar United were superior to their opponent in all aspects of the game. Aldorino must have given his team some team talk, incidentally Boca stayed pitch side and did not retire to their dressing room, as United unleashed a version of footballing Blitzkrieg on the Boca goal. A few minutes into the half Aden Victor gave United a two goal cushion after some clever interplay with Jared Buhagier and Justin Collado. His neat finish a fitting end to a good footballing move. Referee, Andy Parody, then took center stage by awarding Gibraltar United two penalties. To be honest they were both stonewallers which Captain Andrew Lopez dispatched to either side of Hermida in the Boca goal. 4-0 up and it seemed coasting. United’s defence coped well with the infrequent Boca attacks, while the midfield bossed the area in front of them. Gilbert and Victor on the wings provided good width and clever play hemming the Boca full backs into their area.

Enter Stefan Cumbo into the fray. Author of two goals of immense quality. His first, a raspingly powerful shot that thundered off the cross bar and clearly bounced behind the goal line. His second was a show of sheer class in terms of movement and finishing. A masterfully placed ball that caressed the post leaving a diving Hermida to claw helplessly at the air as the ball curved away beyond the reach of his extended fingers. Sandwiched between both of Cumbo’s goals United scored their 6th. A debut goal for Shane Howe. Having already had a couple of run outs with the Reserves, Shane was making his debut in the league tonight. He showed good movement and good touches of the ball and he grabbed his goal, though was assisted by some weak goalkeeping. Fellow new signing, David Gallardo also made his league debut and was a good outlet on the left wing. Lopez got his hat trick at the death with a good finish, not before Suarez had netted a consolation for Boca. 3 more points and back on par with Europa Point. Onwards to the match against Mons Calpe a week today.

Gibraltar’s FUTSAL squad has been involved in triangular tournament in Malta in preparation for the Euro Qualifiers in the New Year. Alongside Gibraltar Malta, as hosts, and Serbia are participating in the event. Gibraltar has already hosted Malta in a couple of friendly games earlier in the year and in Serbia they faced a side currently ranked in the Top 10 of UEFA FUTSAL’s rankings. Three of our players have been drafted by the Gibraltar FUTSAL FA and have travelled with the squad for the tournament. These players are goalkeeper Kyle ‘Chino’ Goldwin, Justin Collado and Captain Andrew Lopez. Though Gibraltar lost both matches Gibraltar United Football Club is proud to have these international FUTSAL players in its ranks. Well done to all the Gibraltar players in the squad but in particular to our three lads!